Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-12
GOT THE COLD SHOULDER.
O'BRlEN'S MONTREAL VISIT NOT A
BRILLIANT SUCCESS.

and He Speaks In Small Hail to a
Small Crowd-A Report of ParnelI's
Death Makes "a Brief Sensation Glad
stone Speaks to Preachers
MONTREAL, MAY I2-Editor O'Brien ar
rived here Wednesday at a. m, after trip
devoid of incident There WAS small crowd
at the station when the train drew up. and il
sent up "a lusty cheer for the Irish agitator
After the visitor had stepped off the train,
a committee of the local National league, con
sisting of II. J. Cloran and j. b. Lane pres
ident and secretary respectively of the league,
came forward and read an address of vel
come, to which 0Brien briefly replied, after
which the party took carriages for the st
Lawrence hotel where Mr. O'Brien recuper-
ated for the work of the evening, meanwhile
receiving numerous visits from his fellow
countrymen who called TO pay their respects
A small audience assembled "Wednesday
evening in the Albert hall to listen to the
opening speech of William OBrien against
Lord IanSlowne. A Gordon of police was
stationed near the hall, and every precaution
was taken 10y the chief Of police to prevent or
overcome any demonstration Of hostility.
These measures Were 50 complete that officers
III plain clothes were placed in lanes aud in
the churchy ard Of st Bartholomew, ad-
joining the hall bat happily these precautions
we're unnecessary, as no violence OF insult of
any kind WAS offered.
Shortly after ) o'clock the audience began
to mrniieat IfHIatience and some ten minutes
later the curtain WAS raised and disclosed
stated upon the platform MesSrs. H J.
Clian, III the char on his right Mr.. O'Brien
and Alderman Cunningham, and On his lett
Dennis Barry and several of the officers ofthe
Irish National league aud members of the
different sIcieties Mr. O'Brien was the
principal attraction aud all eyes were turned
upon him He is of square build, gaunt feat
ures, high forehead, and spare beard He was
greeted with ronslng ,irrrS. h. J. Cloran in
introducing Me uBrien, said that the press
of Canada did not reflect the popular opinion,
but merel, tine vote ot the governor general
and his ministers, aud read dispatch from
Toronto winch stated that Mayor Rowland
was calling a meeting to consider whether
Mr. OBrien should be permitted IN lecture
there This WAS the signal for cries of
shame and "rhere's no fair play there ;"
Mr. OBIieu had not come on the same err
ihb'l III htiit anu kNiihtl, WIZ COME here 10
denounce Parnell ami his colleagues as as
sasSins and uurderers
Mr.. O'Brien m rising was received with
cheers. After warmly thanking the people of
Montreal for their welcome he SAID he would
explain the reason Of his visit. 1t was be
cause the homes of the poor people of Lugga-
curran are desolate, and because The man re
si"pnShle for that misery is occupyi ns here
the highest post of honor.
Mr. OBrien drew a terrible picture of
atrocities committed in evicting the tenants
On lIauslowncs estates, and said the governor
general was dePopuatIng the REGION rs thor
oughly us if the angel of death were knock
ing at each door and downing every inmate
The speaker was wildly cheered during and
after the speech There was no disturbance
The whole tenor of the speech was very
moderate. as If the orator feared the results Of
any extravHgant language He concluded by
saying that he was they would go back
triumphant and that Larsiowne would go
hack and that very soon The whole affair
passed off very quietly, the anticipated oppo-
sitIon from hot hesds among the Protestant
population having been averted bY wise coIrn-
sci AT the conclusion OF the lecture O'Brien
was escorted TO his hotel by about 400 per
snns who insisted Oh a speech, which he gave,
afterw'Td introducing Kilhride. the evicted
tenant, who went over the same ground but
was more violent in dcnunciatiuns of Lord
Lansdowne The whole demonstration NAV
be regarded rs very tame
Albert hall, where the meeting was held is
the poorest ia The city, but was the only one
that could hr obtained, and even its sitting
capacity OF in was not more than three
fourths taken up No prominent citizens were
preseut-not a single Protestant OF even a
French Cana Han In fact all the citizens of
influence had bovcotted him All
the leading IrjSilInen followed the
adyire of Father Dowd, rector Of St
PatrIck's aud refused to ronntenance the
Nationalist mission. The effect OF complete
condemnation by the local press, both French
and English, except one sheet which aspire,
to represent the irish people, was also seen IN
popular disregard Of his arrival III marked
contrast TO the scenes when Parnen navtt,
and Justin Mccarthy were greeted Il, tt,un-
sands Of citizens al the depot